Key indicator



P. H. HOWE KEY INDICATOR Feb. 27, 1934.

Filed Oct. 6. 1952 INVENTOR Pafr/cg hf Hawe ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 27, 1934 UNITED STATES PATIENT oFFic 2 Claims.

Y The invention is a means for indicating the position in which a key may be inserted in the key opening of a lock in which a raised portion with points indicating the teeth of the key is provided atthe end of the key opening corresponding with the back of the key;

The object of the invention is to provide means on a lock for indicating in which direction the back of the key should be held when inserting the key in the lock.

Another object of the invention is to provide means on a lock for indicating in which direction the key should be inserted which may be detected in the dark.

Another object of the invention is to provide means on a lock representing the irregular edge of a key to indicate that the key should be held with its irregular edge facing in the same direction.

Another object is to provide means on a lock for indicating the direction in which the key should be inserted which is made integral with the look so that no additional or moving parts are necessary.

A further object is to provide means on a lock for indicating the direction in which a key may be inserted which may be used on a lock of any type.

And a still further object is to provide a key indicator that may be used on any lock, which is simple and inexpensive.

With these ends in view the invention embodies a lock having a raised portion preferably with an irregular edge representing the irregular edge of a key positioned adjacent the larger edge or back of the key opening.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a lock showing the arrangement of the key indicator.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of part of a lock showing the projecting points at the upper edge of the key indicator.

Figure 3 is a view on an enlarged scale showing the arrangement of the device.

Figure 4 is a front elevation of a lock showing an irregular line across the face thereof.

Figure 5 is a front elevation of part of an auto- 50 mobile door handle showing a lock with a pivotally mounted cover plate.

Figure 6 is a view showing the device on the lock of an automobile door handle.

Figure '7 is a view showing the device in a 5 modified form on the cylinder of a padlock.

Figure 8 is a view showing the device on the cylinder of a lock in which the key opening extends to the lower edge of the cylinder.

Figure 9 is a View showing the device on a cylinder lock in which the device is placed on the face of the look below the key cylinder.

Figure 10 is a view showing the device in a modified form on a look similar to the lock shown in Figures 8 and 9.

In the drawing the device is shown as it may be provided wherein numeral 1 indicates the key indicator, numeral 2 a lock cylinder, and numeral 3 a lock.

The indicator 1 is formed on the end of a lock cylinder 2 by providing a raised surface at the large end of the key slot which corresponds with the back of the key. The device extends from the lower edge of the cylinder to a point about midway thereof and the upper edge is formed of points 4 to correspond with the irregular edge of a key and it will be noted that when placing the key in the lock the key may be held in such a position that the irregular edge will correspond with the points 4 which will indicate the proper position of the key. It will also be noted that these points may point outward, as indicated by the numeral 5 and shown in Figure 2, so that they may readily be apprehended by touch, as by placing the thumb or forefinger over the lock and feeling the points it will be understood that the key should be held in such a position that the rough edge will correspond with the points and it may therefore be inserted. It will be understood that these points may be arranged in any manner and the device may be on the lower side of the look, as shown in Figure 3, or at one side, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, or the lock may be inverted so that the indicator may be on the upper side or in any desired position. It will be understood that the indicator will be on the side of the lock representing the smooth edge or back of the key and it may be made as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, or in the form of a small round projection, as shown in Figure 7, or of any other shape or design.

The indicator may also be provided in the form of an irregular line 6, as shown in Figure 4, and this line may be marked in or on the face of the lock cylinder or slightly raised forming a ridge as it will be understood that with a line of this character on the face of the lock and with the portion of the cylinder on the side of the line adjacent the large end of the key slot slightly raised the position of the key may readily be determined by holding it in such aposition that the irregular edge will correspond with the irregular line 6. It will be understood that this line may be of any shape or design and may be formed in any other manner.

In the lock in a door handle of a motor vehicle the cylinder may be completely turned 180 degrees so that the indicating member 1 may be on either side, however, in any position the manner of holding the key may readily be determined as the back of the key will be held toward the raised portion and the irregular edge thereof will correspond with the points 4. It will be noted that a plate '7 may be pivotally attached to the handle or look and this may snap over the indicating member 1 or be recessed to provide space therefor, as indicated by the: dotted line 8.

In the type of lock shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10 where the key slot extends to the edge of the cylinder the raised portion may be provided at the sides of the slot, as shown in Figure 8, and indicated by the numeral 9, or placed on the face of the look, as shown in Figure 9 and indicated by the numeral 10, or arranged in any other manner. This may be in the form of a small round bump, as indicated by the numeral 11 and shown in Figure 10, or may be provided with an irregular upper edge, as indicated by the numeral 12, which will correspond with the irregular edge of a key. It is desired to form the indicator 1 by additional material projecting slightly outward from the end of the cylinder and with the lower edge sloping inward so that the thickness thereof is comparatively thin, however, it will be understood that it may be formed by attaching material to the end of the cylinder, or in any other manner and may also be of any other shape or design.

It will be understood that other changes may be made in the device without departing from the spirit of the invention. One of which changes may be in the use of the device on a lock of any other type or design, another may be in the use of any other form of indicator on the end of or adjacent the end of a lock cylinder, and still another may be in the change of the design of the device so that the position of the key may more readily be associated therewith in order to provide means by which the indicator will be referred to and the key compared therewith automatically or by force of habit.

The construction will be readily understood from the foregoing description. In use the device may be arranged as shown and may be provided on a lock of any type or description, and it will be noted that when placing a key in a lock the position of the indicating device will automatically form an impression in the optic nerves so that the key will automatically be correctly positioned and readily inserted in the lock. The same will be true when placing the key in the lock in the dark except that the feeling sense will automatically cause one to turn the key in the proper position. After the device has been on the market for some time everyone will automatically note the position of the key slot so that keys may readily be inserted without examining the position of the slot.

Having thus fully described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A look having a raised portion adjacent one end of the key slot, the edge of said raised portion formed in an irregular line to correspond with the irregular edge of the key and project ing outward. V

2. A look having a raised portion extending from the edge of the lock cylinder adjacent the large edge of the key slot and extending to a point about midway of said cylinder, the edge of said raised portion at the midway point of said cylinder being irregular and projecting out- Ward.

PATRICK H. HOWE. 

